Is Verizon Internet Down?
Find out if you're in a Verizon outage and get tips on getting back online fast
Jul 17, 2024 | Share
Brand Guides, How-To
Verizon offers 5G home internet, LTE home internet, Fios fiber internet, DSL internet, and mobile phone data in the U.S. You can have an internet outage on any connection type, but our reporting shows outages are not common. They’re usually pretty short too.
We’ll help you find out if there’s a Verizon outage where you live and give you steps to get back online. Then, we’ll give you the facts you need to decide if it’s time to switch internet providers.
On this page:
Troubleshooting tips | Verizon outage refunds | Leave a Verizon review | Customer feedback | Verizon network improvements | How Verizon compares | FAQs
On this page:
- Troubleshooting tips
- Verizon outage refunds
- Leave a Verizon review
- Customer feedback
- Verizon network improvements
- How Verizon compares
- FAQs
How to find out if Verizon internet is down
If you think you might have a Verizon outage, the first thing to do is check your home setup. Follow the steps below.
Step 1: Try logging on with a different device, such as a gaming console, smart TV, or smartphone.
Step 2: Check your Verizon wireless gateway (router + modem). A solid white light means you’re connected, a blinking white means the system is setting up, and an amber or red light means no connection.
Step 3: Check your Ethernet and power cables to make sure they are connected securely and haven’t been damaged.
Step 4: Restart (or unplug and reboot) your affected devices and your gateway. A full reset usually takes about 10 minutes.
Step 5: Check your My Verizon app or Verizon account for any outage-related notifications.
Check the lights on your gateway
![verizon-5g-home-internet-gateway-top-view Top-down view of the Verizon 5G Home Internet gateway](https://www.highspeedinternet.com/app/uploads/2024/07/verizon-5g-home-internet-gateway-top-view-1200x1097.webp)
Verizon’s 5G gateway with a steady white light showing a steady internet connection. Photo by Katie Garza | HighSpeedInternet.com.
Verizon offers wireless gateways for its Fios and 5G home internet services, and these gateways function as both a router and modem. A white light indicates your internet is connected, while a red or amber light may indicate an internet outage.
Katie Garza, a member of the HighSpeedinternet.com team, uses Verizon 5G Home Internet at her Arizona home. She says outages sometimes occur, but they are very short and much less problematic than with her previous internet provider, Cox .
“If we have an outage, it is momentary, and then it is back up. With Cox, we were constantly unplugging the router and plugging it back in and spent so much time troubleshooting.”
– Katie Garza, a Verizon 5G Home Internet customer
Katie’s husband, David, uses their 5G internet connection for his photography and videography work and sometimes complains about slow uploads but otherwise says Verizon 5G is better than other internet options in the area.
Learn more and troubleshoot your Verizon connection
Still can’t get online? Contact Verizon
If you can’t get online and can’t figure out why, it’s time to reach out to Verizon. Here are the best ways:
- Call Verizon Fios help at 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966)
- Call Verizon mobile help at 1-800-922-0204 (including Verizon 5G or LTE home internet)
- Check reported outages for Verizon mobile (including Verizon 5G or LTE home internet)
- Check reported outages for Verizon Fios
- Check the Verizon news center in an emergency
- Check Verizon News or Verizon Support on X (formerly Twitter) or visit the Verizon page on Facebook
Verizon internet outage stats
Internet providers like Verizon don’t like to say how often their networks go down. That’s why we asked real customers of each Verizon service how often they experience outages at home. Here’s what we found out:
![hsi-verizon-internet-outage-1-new How often Verizon internet customers experience outages](https://www.highspeedinternet.com/app/uploads/2024/07/hsi-verizon-internet-outage-1-new.png)
Data gathered from the HighSpeedInternet.com 2023 customer satisfaction survey.
Verizon customers had good things to say about the reliability of the network. As expected, Fios was by far the most reliable internet type from Verizon. Less than 10% of customers reported frequent problems with their service.
Verizon 5G customers also came out ahead of average, with about one customer in six reporting frequent outages or slowdowns. That makes sense because the reliability of fixed wireless internet (such as Verizon’s 5G and LTE offerings) depends on how far you are from the nearest tower and how busy the network is at any given time.
Verizon doesn’t offer new DSL connections anymore, but some internet customers may have access only to the older copper wiring Verizon uses for its landline telephone services. We haven’t talked to those customers since 2023, but when we did, they reported slowdowns and outages that were just barely higher than the national average.
Are Verizon internet customers satisfied?
Our survey went beyond asking about the frequency of problems. We also asked about customer satisfaction because that’s what really matters when you’re deciding which internet service to order for your home.
Here’s what Verizon customers told us about each connection type.
![hsi-verizon-internet-outage-2-new Customers who are satisfied with Verizon's internet services](https://www.highspeedinternet.com/app/uploads/2024/07/hsi-verizon-internet-outage-2-new.png)
Data gathered from the HighSpeedInternet.com customer satisfaction survey. Satisfaction figures represent the percentage of customers for each service who say they are “completely” or “very” satisfied with the speed or reliability of their internet service.
Like with outage and speed stats, satisfaction stats from Verizon customers are no surprise. Fios customers are happiest, followed by Verizon 5G/LTE customers and then DSL customers. Nationwide, Fios and Verizon 5G/LTE customers like their internet service more than average, but Verizon DSL customers are a little underwhelmed.
If you’re a Verizon DSL customer and you are less than delighted with what you’re getting, check out your options for Verizon 5G/LTE or T-Mobile Home Internet . Members of our team have tested both, and we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
Does Verizon offer refunds?
No, Verizon customers are not entitled to refunds if network outages occur. However, the company will repair or replace any of its equipment that has been damaged due to bad weather.
The no-refunds policy isn’t great, but we like how transparent Verizon is about its network performance. For every Fios tier, Verizon says actual speeds match or exceed advertised speeds. For DSL customers, actual speeds fall within advertised ranges (but never exceed them). Actual results for 5G and LTE home internet are not reported, but you can find a range of reported speeds toward the bottom of the report.
Pro tip: Availability and uptime measure different things
In geek speak, network reliability is referred to as uptime. The fewer outages a service has over time, the higher its uptime percentage.
In the real world, it’s easy to confuse uptime with availability. When you’re shopping for internet service on sites like HighSpeedInternet.com, availability means how many addresses within a city or region can purchase service from a provider like Verizon. In other words, availability means whether you can get service at your address, not how often the service is operational.
Leave a review about your Verizon service
If you’re a Verizon customer, we want to hear from you! Your honest reviews help us give better advice to other customers looking for great home internet. Once you’re done, check out what other Verizon customers have to say.
Verizon customer feedback
We analyzed hundreds of real reviews from Verizon customers to learn more about their experiences with reliability. Below are snippets from some of the most helpful ones.
Quotes from customers*
“Verizon has been an extremely reliable service. I have not experienced an outage, and very rarely are there slowdowns. I think the price is reasonable. The only thing that could be better is the wired Ethernet.”
–Verizon Fios customer
“My internet has always been reliable. For a good price, it is way more reliable than those around me with other providers.”
–Verizon 5G/LTE home internet customer
“My experience with Verizon has been quite good. The internet service has steadily improved, both with regard to reliability and to speed. I have also successfully renegotiated my service agreement several times to get a better price. Customer service is exceptional.”
–Verizon Fios customer
“Verizon is a fine internet service provider. The area I live in is horrible for service, but the Verizon service works the best it can under the conditions.”
–Verizon DSL customer
* Sourced from customers in all regions of the United States as part of the 2023 Customer Satisfaction Survey. We did not collect personal info such as names and addresses.
Verizon mobile infrastructure upgrades
Verizon has been busy upgrading its 5G network across the country in recent years, with special focus in places like Washington, D.C., Alaska, South Carolina, and along the Jersey Shore. This has meant new cell towers, upgraded capacity on existing towers, and additional bandwidth. The company has also been busy building new fiber for its towers. By September of 2023, it boasted 57,000 miles of new fiber, according to a press release about the expansion.
The upgrades to the mobile network will result in faster and more reliable service, but may result in short-term network outages. If they affect you, you’ll get a text message or email directly from Verizon.
Learn what to do if you don’t have phone service.
Verizon Fios expansion
Verizon is upgrading its Fios home internet network too. The figures are a little murky, but a recent report quoted a Verizon executive saying it had upgraded 5.2 million circuits from copper (DSL) to fiber by October of 2023. That meant 63 offices were upgraded, but it’s unclear how much copper infrastructure remains.
In 2023, Verizon announced fiber builds in Massachusetts, Delaware, upstate New York, and Virginia. Much of that buildout is supported by taxpayer funding.
If you don’t already have DSL internet from Verizon, there’s no way to get it. However, you may be eligible for Verizon 5G/LTE home internet .
Tired of Verizon outages and slowdowns?
Enter your zip code below for a list of plans from all your local internet providers.
How Verizon compares
Verizon competes with other mobile providers in every state. For Fios home internet, Verizon’s biggest footprint is in the Northeast. You can get it in the following states:
- New York
- Massachusetts
- A tiny portion of New Hampshire
- Connecticut
- New Jersey
- Maryland
- Delaware
- Virginia
- Pennsylvania
Which internet providers are available to you depends on your exact address, but below is a list of providers that compete directly with Verizon Fios. Here’s a look at how prices and customer ratings compare.
Provider | Customer satisfaction score* | Starting price | Shop online |
---|---|---|---|
3.9 | $35.00/mo.† | ||
| 3.6 | $39.99/mo.‡ | |
| 3.4 | $19.99/mo.§ | |
| 3.3 | $54.95/mo.|| | |
![]() | 4.1 | $50.00/mo.# |
*Ratings based on a five point system used in our 2023 Customer Satisfaction Survey. Higher is better.
See disclaimers.
Our expert take on Verizon Fios vs. local competitors
Verizon Fios offers a high-quality network, great pricing, and free equipment. It ranked in eighth place in our 2024 annual internet service review, and customers ranked it in second place (alongside Xfinity and AT&T ). If you’re tired of Verizon outages though, it may make sense to consider competitors.
Verizon vs. Windstream: You can choose between DSL or fiber internet from Windstream and Fios in Pennsylvania and rural New York. Fios is usually the better pick if your other option is Windstream’s DSL. It’s also a better choice than Windstream’s fiber plans, even though pricing is similar. That’s because Windstream hikes prices after the first year.
Verizon vs. Mediacom: You’ll have a choice between Verizon Fios and Mediacom Xtream cable internet in parts of Delaware. Fios offers faster speeds and stable prices, and we love its straightforward pricing. However, you can get cheaper internet for Mediacom for the first 12 months (before prices increase by about $100 per month). In most cases, you’ll be happier long-term with Fios.
Verizon vs. Earthlink: Earthlink offers both fiber and internet in New York, where it competes directly with Fios. Due to network quality and fewer hidden fees, we think most people will be happier with Fios, but if you’re having a lot of Verizon outages, give Earthlink a try.
Verizon 5G Home Internet vs T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: Deciding between 5G or LTE fixed wireless from Verizon vs. T-Mobile depends on network coverage where you live. Generally speaking, T-Mobile 5G is going to work better in highly populated areas and Verizon 5G/LTE is better in rural areas. Both providers give you the best possible deal if you bundle with their mobile phone services.
Verizon FAQs
How do I know if Verizon is down in my area?
If my Verizon cell service is down, can I still get Fios internet?
Why isn't Verizon internet working?
How do I check my (Verizon) signal?
Why is my Verizon Wi-Fi connected but I don't have internet?
Does Verizon Fios internet work when the power is out?
Disclaimers
†Verizon
w/ Auto Pay. Regulatory fees included in monthly price for qualified accounts. See full terms.
‡Windstream
With $5 Auto Pay for each month the customer is enrolled in AutoPay throughout the life of the customer. Available to new and existing customers. Price duration for 3 years.
§Mediacom
For 1 year. Plus activation, installation, modem rental, taxes & fees. Price includes $10/mo discount for autopay and paperless billing.
║Earthlink
with a 12 month contract. Actual speeds may vary depending on the distance, line-quality, phone service provider, and number of devices used concurrently. All speeds not available in all areas
#T-Mobile 5G home internet
w/ Auto Pay. Regulatory fees included in monthly price for qualified accounts. See full terms.
Author - Chili Palmer
Chili Palmer covers breaking news, satellite internet, mobile connectivity, and streaming services for HighSpeedInternet.com. Previously writing under the name Rebecca Palmer, Chili is passionate about providing accurate and accessible information any time you're trying to connect … whether you already speak geek or just got your first smartphone.
Editor - Jessica Brooksby
Jessica loves bringing her passion for the written word and her love of tech into one space at HighSpeedInternet.com. She works with the team’s writers to revise strong, user-focused content so every reader can find the tech that works for them. Jessica has a bachelor’s degree in English from Utah Valley University and seven years of creative and editorial experience. Outside of work, she spends her time gaming, reading, painting, and buying an excessive amount of Legend of Zelda merchandise.